Apparatus for tilting automobiles



Oct. 30, 1192s. 1,689,284

l J. R. HOLCOMBE ET AL APPARATUS FOR TILTING AUTOMOBILES Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,284

J. R. HOLCOMBE ET A1.

APPARATUS FOR TILTING AUTOMOBILES Filed March 1, 1927 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT orrice.

JOLLY ROY HOLCOMBE, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND FRANCES FICKLING DUNBAR, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE AUTO CRADLE COMPANY, OF ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATON OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

APPARATUS FOR TILTING AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed March 1, 1927. Serial No. 171,825.

This invention relates to apparatus for tilting automobiles.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus or" the type described.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a'device tor tilting automobiles, comprising a pair of cradles each adapted to rock or tilt `on suitable supports together with troughs carried by each cradle to support the vehicle wheels, there being connecting sections ot track between the tilting troughs which are adapted to be automatically moved out of the way when the vehicle is titled on the cradles.

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of novel means for moving inwardly the section-ot connecting track, between the movable troughs, on the side oil the vehicle which tilts downwardly, so that it will not interfere with portions ot the wheels and the running board during the tilting operation.

Other and further objects ot the invention comprise the novel arrangement and construction ot the various parts and will be more iully comprehended by those skilled in the art after a consideration of the accompanying drawings and 'following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exen'iplary embodiment ot the invention, with the understanding, however, that various changes may be made therein such as fall. within the scope ot' the appended claims without departing Jfrom the spirit ot' the invention.

ln said drawings:

Figure 1 .is a plan view of an apparatus constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section on line 2ML ot Figure 1 Figure 3 isan elevation of the right hand end or' the machine as seen in Figure 1;

liginfe -l is a transverse vertical section on line `fl--l ot Figure 2; and

liligure 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

A number ot' forms of tilting cradles have been suggested toruse in repairing and greasing automobiles. The majority of these comprise a pair of parallel tracks to receive and retain the vehicle wheels and some means for causing one ot the tracks to elevate or one to elevateand one to depress in order that ready access may be had to the under side of the vehicle. Such arrangements oii'er the dit'- liculty oit having the track extend between the wheels on the side which is lifted and to thus seriously interfere with movements ot the workmen as well as to render access to certain parts of the vehicle diilicult. The

present invention contemplates separating mediate track section on the opposite or elevated side moves together with the portion on vthe lowered side and serves as a suitable seat or bench for workmen.V

Referring to the drawing, there is disclosed at 10 and l1 a pair ot rockers `formed preferably of inverted steel channel sections curved to a true arc ot suitable radius. Each rocker is adapted to roll on a pair of rollers 12, 13 spaced apart a suitable horizontal distance so as to prevent tipping ot the rocker about one of the rollers as a pivot. The rollers are carried on a pair ot axles 14 and adapted to rotate 'freely thereon. The axles 111 are shouldered at the ends and their reduced portions passed through the webs ot spaced parallel channel sections 15 set on edge. Suitable nutssuch as 16 secure the axles rigidly to the sections and serve to space these channel sections apart and to thus form a rigid frame. Suitable spacing nuts 18 and 19 position the channels and rollers.. The side lianges ot the rockers lit over the edges of the rollers and are thus prevented trom moving longitudinally of the axles.

There are two complete sets ot rockers and their supporting rollers and frames, spaced apart :trom center to center a distance equivalent to the average wheel base of the vehicles adapted to be accommodated. On the left hand end, the rockers are adapted to preferably support the rear wheels of the vehicle and are further spaced apart than those at the right hand end adapted to support the front wheels. Otherwise the construction oit the two sets of frames and rockers is identical.

Each rocker is provided with a chord in the form of an angle bar 20 subtending practically the full arc thereof and secured at its ends to the outer iiange of the rocker as shown at 2l. Extending transversely of the rockers and secured to and supported by the angle bars 2O are the wheel troughs 22 formed with the bottoms 23 and the sides 24. They may be of wood or metal as preferred. The wheel troughs 26 en the front end are provided with the inclined end stops 27 secured between their side members 28 to limit the extent of movement of the front vehicle wheels in these troughs.

In order that a vehicle may be securely attached to each cradle, comprising the two rockers and the corresponding set of wheel troughs, so th at no relative movement thereof may result when the cradle is tilted, means are provided for securing the axles to the cradles. At the rear end, a bar 30 extends parallel to and slightly spaced from each inner trough side 24. Its ends are bent at right angles and are secured beneath the bottoms 23 oit the wheel troughs as at 31. Beferring to Figs. l and 5, it will be seen that a suitable bar or tube 32 extends between the rods 30 and has ring-like ends 33 surrounding these rods so that the bar 32 may be slid alongl the rods to be positionedrdirectly beneath the rear axle 34 et the vehicle. A pair of turn-buckles 35 have their lower ends 36 of ring form to encircle the bar 32 and their upper ends 37 of suitable hook form so that these hooks can be placed over the axle housing on either side of the diiferential case and the turn-buckles tightened to draw the axle down and hold it rigid in respect to the cradle. At the forward end, it is contemplated stopping the front axle of the vehicle in substantially the same position irrespective of the wheel base of the vehicle by running the tires against the stops 27. To retain the axle a single transverse pipe 40 extends between the inner side members 28 of the wheel troughs and has a bolt 41 passing therethrough and through the bottoms of the wheel troughs, with nuts 42 applied on the ends thereof to retain the same in position. A turn-buckle 43, corresponding to one of those described in connection with the rear end cradle, serves to hook over the front axle and secure the same rigid in respect to the front end cradle.

The cradles are adapted to be rocked, to tilt the vehicle, by means of suitable gears such as 45, one engaging the inner rocker of the front cradle and one each rocker of the back cradle. For this purpose, the engaged rockers are provided with a series of spaced punched holes 46 adapted to mesh with the teeth 47 of the gears so that upon rotation neeaaeli ofthe gears suitable turning or rolling oi the rockers will be effected. The three gears are non-rotatively mounted on a pipe or shaft 48 extending the full length of the ap'- paratus. Suitable bearing blocks 49 for this sha'tt are bolted to the upper flanges of the outermost channel members of each cradle supporting trame. On the inner channel members ot the cradle supporting frames, the bearings 50 ot the shaft 48 are bolted to spacer members 5l fitting in the groovesoic the channel members by means of the bolts Preferably, at the iorward end the handle bar 53 is non-rotatably attached to the shaft so that it can be used'to rotate the shaft. The gear diameters are such that when the handle bar 53 is moved from the vertical position to one side until it touches the floor or ground, the vehicle is tipped as far as required in that direction and correspondingly in the opposite direction when the handle bar is moved to the opposite side. Intermediate positions are feasible, owing to the tact that the center ot gravity of the vehicle practically remains at the same distance above the ground owing to the shape and coi' our oi the rockers. l/V ith the center of gravity thus remaining practically stationary, it will be seen that but little eiioort will be necessary to tilt the vehicle because there is no actual lifting of the saine. It is only necessary to overcome the friction of the gears, their shait and of the rockers on their rollers. rEhis Jfriction is, however, sufficient to retain the vehicle in any desired position, although it may be desirable to provide some form oi? ratchet locking means (not shown) to retain the shaft 48 in any desired position. Since the rockers roll on. their rollers and follow in continuations of their own arc, the center oi the vehicle is shifted neither vertically nor transversely, and there is no tendency of the vehicle to fall over and no means need be applied to prevent the rochers from leaving their rollers.

lin order to run the vehicle onto the wheel troughs, suitable detachable runways may be provided to extend from the ground to the rear wheel troughs. rlhey may have suitable hooks such as shown at 54 to temporarily attach the parts together.

Some means must be provided for carrying the trent wheels of the vehicle from the rear wheel troughs to the front wheel troughs, and these take the form of the intermediate runways 55, one between each trent and rear wheel trough. Each comprises a bot-tom 56 Vand an outer side guide 57 attached thereto and 'forming a brace for the bottom. rilhese intermediate runways are supported at their ends on. the blocks 58, which are carried by the transverse stringers 59. The transverse stringers are connected together by longitudinal members 60., one at either end thereof thus forming a rigid rectangular framework. The

stringere are provided at their bottoms with the small channel members 61 attached thereto with their open sides down. The channels in these. members 6l lit. snugly over the flanges of the inner channels l5 of the cradle supporting frames and are slic able thereon laterally of the runways. rlhe normal position of the runways is as shown in Fig. l, but when the vehicle is tilted it is desirable that the runways be moved toward the side of the vehicle which is elevated, both to remove them from beneath the lowered portion of the vehicle and also to have them out of the way so that work can more conveniently be done on the vehicle. For this purpose, they slide on the channel members as just described.

Each stringer is provided on its outer face with a U-shaped member 63, the ends 64 of which project up substantially to the height of the top 65 of the stringer, although the intermediate portion of the Stringer is cut away near the top as shown at 66. These ends formA abutments spaced slightly from each other laterally. Secured to each of the rockers adjacent these stringere is an upwardly projecting arm 68 `having a horizontally turned end 69 provided with a roller r(O rotatably mounted thereon and constituting a driving member. This roller is, (when the cradles are in their horizontal position), between the arms of the U 63, as best shown in Fig. `When the cradlev is tilted the roller engages the inner surface of one of the arms by virtue of moving to the side, and carries the arm and with it the stringer and the runways to one side. It is not desirable to move the runways too far, and before any great movement of the same has occurred, the rollerl 70 elevates, by reason of following the arc of the rocker, and disengages` itself from the U G3 with which it has been in contact, so that movement of the runways stops although movement of the rockers may continue. Upon returning, the roller 70 engages the opposite arm of the U when it has returned to a position slightly nearer to horizontal than that in which it disengaged the U, and returns the runways substantially to their central position automatically.

Some vehicles may have wheels so large and running boards so low that the runways on the side of the vehicle which is being lowered would interfere with these parts before `hey would be drawn sufficiently far inwardly by the mechanism ust described, and for this` purpose the blocks 58 are not rigidly attached to the stringere 59 but merely rest on the top surfaces thereof. A linlr 72 is pivoted at .73 to each block and at 75 to one of t-he stringers, and is normally inclined at the angle shown in Fig. 4. When it is desired to move a runway inwardly prior to tilting the vehicle, it is readily pushed and partially lifted in thev di rection desired to move the same and the whole runway pivots about the points 7 4 until the blocks 58 again rest on the Stringer in the position shown in dotted lines at the left hand side Vof Fig. 4. Both runways are movable in this manner and it is sometimes convenient to move the one beneath the elevated side of the vehicle to more conveniently use the same as a seat or bench while working. l/Vhen in their normal positions, the runways are rigid and since there only outer sie es on the same, any bumping of the. tires against the same only serves to more securely set the blocks 58 on their stringers.

The whole device allows a vehicle to be quickly run into position, secured and tilted for greasing or repairs. Some of the water may be drained from the radiator if it is found necessary and the vents in the storage battery and gasoline tanlr may be plugged with stiff grease to prevent leakage at these.

points. Very little effort is required to tilt the vehicle either to its inclined position or back to a horizontal position. `The front wheels of the vehicle are always run against tno stops 27 and the rear ones position themv selves along the rear wheel troughs in accordance with the wheel base of the vehicle. For this reason, the rear wheel troughs are made considerably longer than the front ones.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pair of spaced, tiltable cradles, wheel. troughs on each cradle, intermediate runways between the wheel troughs of the two cradles when they are in a substantially horizontal position, and means to automatically move said runways laterally when said cradles are tilted.

2. In a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pair of spaced, tiltable cradles each having a pair of wheel troughs secured thereto, a runway arranged between each wheel trough onone cradle and the corresponding wheel trough on the other cradle to form communication therebetween when said cradles are in a substantially horizontal position and means on one of said cradlesy to move said runways laterally upon tilting the cradles.

3. ln a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pair of spaced,rtiltable cradles each having a pair of wheel troughs secured thereto, means to simultaneously tilt said cradles to lower one wheel trough on each and raise the other, a pair of connected runways to afford communication between the wheel troughs on the two cradles when the cradles are substantially horizontal, cooperating means on one of said cradles and on said runway assembly to move said runways laterally and toward the side of said cradles which are elevating, when said cradles art tilted.

4. In a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pair of spaced, tiltable cradles liu each having a pair of wheel troughs secured thereto, means to simlutaneously tilt said cradles to lower one wheel trough on each and raise the other, a pair of connected runways f vflanges of the inner channels 15 of the cradle troughs on the two cradles when the cradles are substantially horizontal, cooperating means on one of said cradles and on said runt.-l way assembly to move said runways laterally and toward the side of said cradles which are elevating, when said cradles are tilted and means to allow independent movement of said runways.

5. In a device for tilting vehicles, iir combination, a pair of spaced tiltable cradles each having a pair of wheel troughs secured thereto, a base supporting each cradle and each having a lateral member, a frame comprising a pair ofA lateral members and a pair of intermediate runways normally between said wheel troughs when the cradles are not tilted, means guiding said lateral frame members toy slide on said lateral base members, means to tiltsaid cradles simultaneously and means to slide said frame laterally when said cradles are tilted.

6; In a device for tilting` vehicles, in combination, a pair of spacedtiltable cradles each having a pair of wheel troughs secured thereto, a runway arranged between each wheel trough on one cradle and the corresponding wheel trough on the other cradle, means connecting said runways together, means to'position said runways in register with said wheel troughs when said cradles are substantially horizontal, said means moving said runways laterally when saidl cradles are tilted.

7 In a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pairV of space-d tiltable cradles each having a pair of wheel troughs secured there# to, a runway arranged between each wheel trough on one cradle and the corresponding wheel trough on the other cradle, means connecting said runways together, means to poi sition said runways in register with said.

wheel troughs when said cradles are substantially horizontal, said means moving said runwaysV laterally a fixed distance when said cradles are tilted.

8. In a device for tilting vehicles, in coinbination, a' frame comprising spaced lateral support beams, axles connect-ing said beams together, rollers on said axles, rockers of inverted channel form, each rocker straddling a roller on each of two spaced axles, means connecting said rockers together comprising wheel troughs, spacedholes in the web of one of said rocker channels, a shaft journaled to said beams, a gear on said shaft and teeth on said gear fitting into said holes to tilt said rockers and wheel troughs.

9. In a device for tilting vehicles, in combination, a pair of spaced frames, a cradle rockable on each frame, a shaft extending over both frames and adapted to rock said cradles simultaneously, a pair of wheel troughs spaced laterally on each cradle, a framework supported slidably by and between said frames, a pair of runways carried by said framework and adapted to afford communication between the wheel troughs on the two cradles, a pair of abutments on said framework, a driving member on one of said cradles adapted to engage one of said abutments when said cradles are tilted to move the framework laterally and to engage the other abutment when the cradles are righted to return the framework to a central position.

10. In a device for tilting vehicles, in coinbination, a frame comprising spaced lateral support beams, axles connecting. said beams together, rollers on said axles, rockers of inverted channel form, each rocker straddling a roller on each of two spaced axles, means connecting` said rocker together comprising wheel troughs, means supported by said wheel troughs and adjustable laterally and longitudinally to secure the axle" of a vehicle in position, spaced holes in the web of one of said rocker channels, a shaft journaled to said beams, a gear on said shaft, and teeth on said gear fitting into said holes to tilt said rockers and wheel troughs.

ll. In a device for tiltin vehicles, in coinbination, a pair of spaced frames, a cradle rockable on each frame, a shaft extending over both frames and adapted to rock said cradles simultaneously, a pair of wheel troughs spaced laterally on each cradle, a framework supported slidably by and between said frames, a pair of-runways carried by said framework and adapted to afford communication between the wheel troughs on the two cradles, a pair of abutments onsaid framework, a driving member on one of said cradles adapted to engage one of said abutments when said cradles are tilted to move the framework laterally andv to engage the other abutment when the cradles are righted to return the framework toV a central posi tion, and means whereby each runway may be individually moved in respect to said framework for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

JOLLY ROY I-IOLCOMBE. FRANCIS FICKLING DUNBAR. 

